Horse-detacher.



PATBNTED APR. 14, 1903.

' M. L. ROBINSON.

HORSE DETAGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

i x r J II II UNITED STAT S PATE T OFFICE.

MARION LAWSON ROBINSON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 725,367, dated April14, 1903.

Application-filed August 9,1902.

To ctZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, MARION LAWSON ROB- INSON, a citizen of the'UnitedStates, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State ofGeorgia, have invented a new and useful I-Iorse-Detacher, of which thefollow-v ing is a specification. I l

This invention is an improved construction of horse-detacher, the objectbeing to provide asimple appliance which can be attached to vehicles forthe purpose of releasing the shaft or thills whenever the horse becomesunmanageable, thereby permitting the horse to escape without damagingthe vehicle or its occupants.

Another object of the invention is toprovide the shafts or thills withrolling supports, which will protect the thill-iron from damage afterthe horse has been detached-from the vehicle. r

Another object is to provide a thill-fasten er in connection with thedetaching mechanism, which fastener shall-be of such construction thatthe thill-iron caube connected and disconnected without operating thedetaching mechanism. '7

With these and certain other objects inv view the invention consists inthe novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement, all ofwhich will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in theclaims. i

In the drawings forming part of this speci fication, Figure 1 is aperspective view, partly in section and illustrating the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showingthe operating-lever as locked in an inoperative position. Fig; 3 is asimilar View showing the lever raised and operating for thepurpose ofdetaching the shafts from the vehicles. Fig. 4 is a sectional view,partly in elevation, showing the thil'l-' coupling mechanism. Fig. 5 isa front view of the same.

In carrying out my invention I employ a tubular bar A, which is cut awayupon its forward side at the lower end and connected to the front faceofthe front axle, as shown at A. A rod B works in the tubular portion ofthe bar A, and its lower end projects downwardly a short distance belowthe tubular portion of said bar; and connected to said erial 1T0.119,111. (No model.)

lower end are the links 0, which links are pivends, thefreeendof saidpin being adapted to engage the transverse horizontal aperture extendingthrough the coupling-block F, said block being securely bolted to theunder side of the axle by means of the clip F. 1 The forward end ofthisblock isrecessed, as shown at. F and fitting into said recess is thecoupling member G, which is essentially in the form of a link and havinga spring-actuated section G, which opens outwardly for the purpose ofpermitting the headH of the thilliron H to be inserted in the saidcoupling member. Locking-pin E, which passes through the block F, passesalso through the coupling'inember G and normally holds the said memberin the recessed portion of said block. When, however, the rod B isforced downwardly, the flat bars are pushed outwardly through the mediumof the links 0, and the locking-pins'E are disengaged from the couplingmembers G, and the said members, together with the "shafts or thills,are completely detached from the vehicle, it being understood, ofcourse, that said detachment only occurs when the rod B is throwndownwardly, and then takes place only when the horse becomesunmanageable and it is desired to detach him from the vehicle in orderto prevent damage To operate the rod B, I employ a lever I,

pivoted at I, having an eccentric head 1 which bears upon the upper endof the rod B. The lever I works in the longitudinally-slottedportion Aof the bar A, and the rod B has -.transverse guide-pins B, which work inthe transverse slots B produced also in the upper end of the tubular barA. A springK is interposed between the bar A and the free end of thelever I, and the strapL is employed for holding the lever in aninoperative position, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to provide against damaging the thill-irons and coupling memberafter the horse has been detached, I arrange depending bails M upon theshaft or thill, said bails carrying rollers M at their lower ends, whichcontact with the ground, and thereby pre- ICO vent the thill-iron andcoupling member com ing into contact with the ground, and consequentlysaving the said parts from damage.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple and efficientconstruction of horse-detacher which can be applied to any of thevehicles now in use and which will operate to accomplish all the objectshereinbefore mentioned.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with thethill-irons of the coupling members having each an outwardly-openingspring-actuated section the coupling-blocks having recesses to receivethe ends of the coupling members, the lockingpins, and means foroperating the lockingpins, for the purpose of releasing the couplingmembers, as specified.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination With thethill-irons, a link member having a spring-section, a recessedcoupling-block adapted to receive said link member, means for securingsaid link in the recess of the block, means located on the vehicle forreleasing said links and detaching the thills from the vehicle, andmeans carried by the thills adapted to prevent their contact with theground when detached.

3. The combination with the tubular bar attached to the axle, the rodmovable therein, the lever for operating the said rod. and means forholding the lever in an inoperative position the links connected to thelower end of the rod, the flat bars slidably arranged upon the axle andconnected to the links, the angular pins carried by the outer ends ofthe sliding bars, the coupling-bars through which the pins Work, thecoupling members and the thill-irons, all arranged and adapted tooperate as specified.

MARION LAWSON ROBINSON. lVitnesses:

A. W. RIPLEY,

W. D. WATERS.

